Problems with Markus Zehender's plugin SA

bombboyer · 11-23-2002, 08:19 PM

I configured it using the onscreen simulation on my home computer which runs XP Pro using the portIO driver. Then, I saved the configuration file for the plugin, and plopped it onto my car system, running 98lite.

Normally the SA is on the bottom two rows, and the info is on the top two rows. Then, when I press the kee that turns off the SA, it "reveals" more info "beneath" the SA.

Suddenly, on the carPC, I get all kinds of garbage with the spectrum analyzer enabled. It worked fine on my home PC. The SA now occupies the top 2 rows, except that each row is a mini-SA. So I have two one row high SA's occupying the top two rows of my LCD.

I have a regular HD44780 40x4 LCD. Any ideas as to what is going on?

EDIT: I've played with it a bit more, and it seems that when the SA is off, everything that should be on rows 3 and 4 (rows otherwise occupied by the SA) are bumped up to rows one and two, and are "fighting" with the stuff that is normally on rows one and two for space, making everything unreadable.

bombboyer · 11-23-2002, 08:20 PM

I am using a 25' cable, but it doesn't work any better with a 6' cable. The only difference I can find with a 25' cable, is that lcdprint.exe will lose a few characters with the longer cable, not garbage, just lose some characters, as in "m3cr" instead of "mp3car".

How should I adjust the timings in Markus' plugin to work better with a long cable?

I want to try that before building the below booster circuit.

here's a direct link to the circuit: http://www.mp3car.com/usersites/heslop8/lpt.jpg

Jarrod · 11-24-2002, 05:41 AM

I havent got Markus' plugin handy at the moment, but I recall having the same problem with lines 3 & 4. What I did to fix it was go into the plugins configuration and switch on an option called 'split mode' or something like that. After that, everything worked fine on my 40x4 char LCD.

Hope that helps.

Electronicsuk · 11-24-2002, 05:49 AM

I can't be entirely sure but I imagine you need to have split mode turned on. A 4x40 LCD contains two drivers, rather than the usual single driver. Give it a try as jarrod said.
Best regards,
Matthew

PTCruiser · 11-25-2002, 01:58 AM

Please take a look on this plugin:

http://www.poulpy.com/lcdplugin/

It's an evolution of the markus plug in.

In dev. so any feedback request is welcome.

Note: I am not the autor of this plug in.

Just contact titi...

bombboyer · 11-25-2002, 02:58 PM

Sweet, split mode fixed it. Finally time to put it in the car this weekend.